Which of the following statements explains how soil quality impacts ecosystems?
a. Soil quality that is good causes plants to use all of the nutrients in the soil. This causes the soil to become extremely dry and increases soil erosion. This causes many plants and animals to die.
b. Soil quality that is poor can decompose dead organisms. This process could be poisonous and infect plants in the area. Other organisms that live in the soil or feed on plants could also be infected.
c. Soil quality that is poor has a lot of different organisms like fungi and bacteria. These organisms help the plants get nutrients and keep the plants stay healthy.
d. Soil quality that is good allows plants to be healthy by providing them with water and nutrients. Other organisms that live in the soil or feed on plants benefit from this.
D. Soil quality that is good allows plants to be healthy by providing them with water and nutrients. Other organisms that live in the soil or feed on plants benefit from this.
d. Soil quality that is good allows plants to be healthy by providing them with water and nutrients. Other organisms that live in the soil or feed on plants benefit from this.
The correct statement that explains how soil quality impacts ecosystems is option (d): "Soil quality that is good allows plants to be healthy by providing them with water and nutrients. Other organisms that live in the soil or feed on plants benefit from this."
To understand why this statement is correct, we need to understand the role of soil quality and its impact on ecosystems. Soil quality refers to the ability of soil to provide the necessary conditions for plants and other organisms to thrive. Here's how you can break down the given options and determine the correct answer:
a. This statement suggests that good soil quality leads to soil becoming dry and increasing erosion, causing harm to plants and animals. This contradicts our understanding of good soil quality, as it should provide adequate moisture and prevent erosion. Therefore, option (a) is incorrect.
b. This statement explains that poor soil quality can lead to the decomposition of dead organisms, which may contain poisonous elements that can infect plants and other organisms. While decomposition is a natural process in soil, the mention of potential poisoning raises concerns about the soil quality. This aligns with our understanding of poor soil quality. Hence, option (b) is a correct explanation of the impact of soil quality on ecosystems.
c. This statement explains that poor soil quality has many beneficial organisms like fungi and bacteria that assist plants in obtaining nutrients and staying healthy. However, the focus is more on the presence of beneficial organisms rather than directly addressing soil quality and its impact. Thus, option (c) does not fully explain how soil quality impacts ecosystems.
d. This statement correctly describes how good soil quality provides plants with the necessary resources, such as water and nutrients, resulting in healthy plants. The presence of healthy plants benefits other organisms that depend on plants directly or indirectly. This option directly addresses the impact of good soil quality on ecosystems and is the correct explanation.
In conclusion, option (d) is the statement that best explains how soil quality impacts ecosystems by highlighting the positive effects of good soil quality on plant health and the benefits received by other organisms in the ecosystem.